...when looking for a beautiful place to retire consider the "right" corner of Texas. We are situated in the beautiful piney woods area of north east Texas with Interstate Highway 30 running through for convenient travel. The beauty of our area is incomparable. Lake Cypress Springs has twice been voted the "Most Beautiful Lake in Texas" by readers of D Magazine, and the beauty is not only skin deep. We have great fishing. The largest Blue Catfish ever caught on Lake Cypress Springs was 63 Lbs. and 49 inches long. That is not a fish story....its life in Franklin County.

Mt. Vernon is the hub of activity for Franklin County and boasts 4 museums including the Don Meredith exhibit and a very rare bird egg display. The Franklin County Arts Alliance is a very active art group made up of many professional and aspiring local artists. The Old Jail Museum is a must see for art lovers. The Arts Alliance has an art show in April where local artists display and sell their work. Mount Vernon Music was founded by professional musicians from the Dallas area to provide concerts in their newly refurbished music hall. We have had the privilege of hearing musical venues from classical string quartets to mariachi groups. The Cultural Arts Center and the Town Plaza are the stage for spring and summer concerts where our friendly residents meet to share a pleasant evening. October brings our annual Country Fest and Stew Cook-off. Fun for everyone.

Mt. Vernon, the county seat, is also rich in historic homes, many of which are used as museums, meeting places and for old fashion quilting. We are a Main Street City and Visionaries in Preservation as well as a Certified Retirement Community, and our Courthouse is on the National Register.

Our weather is great for everyone. Our highest average temperature for the years of 1966 to 2008 was 93 degrees in August. Our rainfall provides a beautiful, lush countryside to enhance the beauty of the lake and the county. Our local 49 bed hospital is small by some standards, but huge on professionalism, friendliness and the ability to help residents. East Texas Medical Center is a system that works to provide localized specialists to the small East Texas Communities. In critical cases there is a helicopter that speeds the arrival of the patient to the hospital most able to provide a speedy and happy prognosis.

To top off all of our very special attributes, our cost of living in Franklin County is far below the figures for the metroplex of Dallas/Fort Worth. This is where you can find economy and beauty in one package.